Michigan has very strict laws on drunk driving. It is important to understand what constitutes a Michigan OWI and Michigan OWVI, as well as the penalties associated with each offense. This article provides information about Michigan’s OWI offense and links to more in-depth resources.
What does it mean to be charged with a Michigan OWI?
Michigan law defines a number of scenarios where a person can be charged with Michigan OWI (operating while intoxicated) or Michigan OWVI (operating while visibly impaired). The offenses include: driving while visibly impaired (BAC of less than .08); operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more; operating a motor vehicle with a BAC greater than .17; and many more.
How to reinstate your suspended Michigan driver’s license.
“How do I reinstate my suspended Michigan driver’s license?”
Michigan drivers ask us this question every day. To reinstate your suspended Michigan driver’s license means understanding the reason your license was suspended or revoked and what you must do to fix it.
The reinstatement procedure varies depending on what type of violation occurred. For reinstating your driving privileges after an OWI/DUI, you will need to reinstate your license through the Secretary of State (or SOS), while reinstatement after a traffic violation or failure to pay a ticket is completed through the court. Be aware that reinstating your driver’s license can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming – especially with multiple violations on your record.
Suspensions vs Revocations
Many people confuse suspensions and revocations. It is important to understand the difference because the process to reinstate your license is different depending on whether your license is revoked or suspended.
If your license is revoked, then you have lost your license indefinitely. To restore a revoked license, you have to attend a hearing at the SOS. On the other hand, if your driver’s license is suspended, then you can just wait until the suspension expires and your license will be reinstated after payment of a fee.
2021 law reinstated 73,000 Michigan driver’s licenses
A new law took effect that eliminated driver’s license suspensions for approximately 73,000 Michigan residents who failed to pay tickets, court fines, or failed to appear in court for certain non-moving and other violations. The Secretary of State will automatically reinstate your suspended Michigan driver’s license if you qualify. The 73,000 people affected by this law will be able to use their existing license or have a new one immediately issued by the Secretary of State.
If you have additional suspensions on your record you must resolve those matters before reinstatement of your suspended Michigan driver’s license will take place. If you are a driver with additional infractions on your record, including additional suspensions or revocations, you will need to address those issues before you will be able to reinstate your suspended Michigan license.
